UNLV: Patricia returns to the Rebel volleyball team for her fourth season and is one of four returning starters. 2002: Patricia was second on the team in kills with 288. She also tallied 25 service aces, 202 digs and 63 total blocks. She is second on the school's all-time service aces list with 93 and needs just 24 to surpass Christel Eves' record of 116. With a 3.60 GPA in international business, Patricia was named to the MWC All-Academic team for the second straight year. 2001: Patricia led the team in service aces with 46 and digs with 208 (2.26 per game). She was second on the team in kills with 272 (2.96 per game). One of her best offensive matches came against Wyoming (10.27), where she posted a career high 23 kills with a season-high .319 attack percentage. She posted a career-high 15 digs twice in 2001 against Gonzaga (9/7) and San Diego State (11/15). 2000: Patricia played in all 27 matches and all 91 games in 2000. She was third on the team in kills with 193 and led the team with 26 service aces. She tallied five double-double matches (kills and digs) and earned a spot on the MWC All-Academic Team.

COLLINS ON ASSUNCAO: "Going into her fourth year, Patricia has had to play many roles for us. She is a versatile player who should see a majority of her time at outside hitter this season."

HIGH SCHOOL: A 1998 graduate of Instituto Radial in Sao Paulo, Brazil ... played basketball, handball, volleyball and ran track & field ... volleyball team was conference champion in 1997 and 1998, basketball team was conference champion in 1997 and 1998 and handball finished third in the conference in 1997 ... was the conference champion in the 400 meters and placed second in the high jump in 1997 as part of the track & field team ... started club volleyball in 1993 ... in 1994 participated in the Centro Olimpico de Treinamento e Pesquisa ... played for Esporte Clube Pinheiros from 1995-97 ... 1995 team finished second at the Sao Paulo Championship and in 1996 finished second at the state tournament ... 1997 team finished second at the state championship ... in 1998 played for BCN-Osasco ... finished third at the junior tournament and won the state championship ... in 1999 played for BCN-Osasco, which was the Sao Paulo Tournament Champion and state champion.

PERSONAL: Patricia Araujo Assuncao was born on May 30, 1981 in Sao Paulo, Brazil ... the daughter of Elcio and Ivone Araujo Assuncao ... has one brother, Fabio, who plays soccer and has one sister, Flavia Araujo, who plays capoeira, which is African-Brazilian music ... majoring in international business ... was named an All-American Collegiate Scholar by the United States Achievement Academy.